Thursday, October 22, 2015

Hi Everyone,Wishing all the blog
readers a very happy Dussehra / Vijayadashami / Durga Puja / Bijoya :) May this day be the harbinger of success, prosperity and good times in
your life.

Navratri
is one of the most auspicious times in the Hindu calendar. It marks the
beginning of the festive season and is one of the favorite times of the
year for me, and i am sure for many others too. Lasting for nine days and
nights and hence known as
Navratri, this festival is dedicated to the worship of the goddess
Durga, the consort of Lord Shiva. According to Hinduism, it is 'The Woman',
the 'Mother', who is the source of power, energy, vigour in the universe
and the force that is responsible for the propagation of creation. Maa
Durga (the Divine Mother) representing Shakti (Power) is
depicted in nine popular avatars (forms) during the nine days of the
festival during the month of Ashvin (September / October). The mother goddess is worshipped to seek Her blessings for imparting strength, power, courage and spirituality to Her devotees. Note: You can learn more about these 9 forms of Durga at the following link: Nine Forms of Durga

Much like the rest of India, Navratri and Dussehra are celebrated in full vigour in Rajasthan, the
land of Rajputs. This article is especially focused on how these festivals have been traditionally celebrated by Rajputs.

Record of Navratri Celebrations by RajputsThe festivities started from the sthapana day.
On this occasion, animals were sacrificed at the shrine of Durga, and
various manifestations of the goddess in the forms of Rudrani, Maha Kali
and Chandika were worshipped.1

For
all nine days, reciting the Durga Saptasati - a religious book of
seven hundred verses - was an important part of the festival. 2The Hakikat Bahi (3) of
Jodhpur preserves a copy of the letter from Maharaja Vijaya Singh to
the District Officer of Nagor of 1778 A.D., in which full instructions
for the celebrations of the festival were given by him. The letter throws sufficient light on the rituals and formalities observed on the occasion.

According
to it, on the first day, the goddess Durga's image was installed and
jawara or barley seeds were sown and worshipped. On the 8th day, nine
virgin girls, representative of Durga, were worshipped by each warrior.
On the 9th day, offerings were made to fire, and feasting and
merry-making concluded the Navratri festival. The sprouted jawara and
the image of the goddess was taken to a pond or a tank in procession
amid great rejoicing and night vigil manifested with singing and
dancing.

The ninth day of Navratri, called Navami, is the
culminating day of the nine-day festival. On Navami, Rajputs everywhere
recognize and worship the various aspects of their life on which they
depend for their livelihood. It is a known fact that one cannot separate
a Rajput warrior from his horse and the reliance and dependence of the
Rajput warrior on his horse can, in no way, be undermined. It is not
just in India but the world over that many a household has survived
because of the unflinching and faithful services rendered by the horse
to man.

Rana Ari Singh of Mewar (1761) displays his skill in horsemanship, which was learned by every Rajput warrior at an early age.

It
is, therefore, appropriate that one day in the year be especially
dedicated in recognition of the usefulness of the horse and its
contribution to the survival of the Rajput community. This is an
important festival specific to Rajputs. It is called the Ashwa Pujan, or the Worship of Horse. This practice is followed to this day by the Rajputs of Udaipur. Ashwa PujanIt
is an important festival for the Rajput warrior as he celebrates his
devoted and valiant steed, his most powerful symbol, and all his
weapons on Dussehra. The Ashwa Poojan Ceremony or Worship of the Horse
commemorates the bond of interdependence between the Rajput and the
horse and the partnership of centuries. Ashwa Poojan is really the grand
finale to the Navratri festivities, invoking both the power of Durga
and the Ashwa.

Complete
Regalia - The 'Marwari' is ready !! The pink ornament which is present
between the horse's ears is called 'Kalingi' . These are the pictures of
2010. This stallion is called "Raj Tilak" , pie-bald, then aged 14
years. Complete decoration is done in silver.

The
horses participating in the poojan belong to an internationally
recognized breed known as ‘Marwari’. This name is reflective of their
area of origin, which is now a part of the present state of Rajasthan -
Marwar. The salient characteristics of the breed are that they are
extremely sure-footed on hard rocky terrain and are at equal ease in the
sands of the desert. Besides these versatile features, they are good
battle companions, as they possess the extraordinary ability to
rejuvenate themselves by overnight rest and a simple sand bath. Chetak, the horse of Maharana Pratap was also a 'Marwari'. Read more here : Chetak & Maharana Pratap | Eternal LegendThe
art of selection or choosing the horse is exceedingly complex and is
described in books known as the 'Salotar'. A Salotar is an ancient
encyclopaedia about horses, and includes complete information related to
them, such as breeding, training, grooming, shoeing, veterinary cover,
good and bad whorls etc. These documents, updated from time to time, are
based on the experiences of eminent Rajput horsemen.

Neveri - The Silver Ornament on the Knee

Ashwa
Poojan originated in ancient times, but is still practised in Mewar.
Every year, the magic of this custom unfolds on the ninth day of
Navratri, as Mewar offers thanksgiving to its Marwari battle horses
bedecked in complete Rajput regalia.

'Halra' - Bands of Silver Necklaces Around the Neck

Celebrating Dussehra in Rajasthan

Since
time immemorial, Dussehra was an important festival for all Rajputs in
general and the warrior class in particular. It was observed on the 10th
day (dashmi) of the bright-half of the month of Asoja (Ashvin /
September-October) in commemoration of Lord Rama's victory over Ravana. The
Mewar Ramayana manuscript, which narrates the story of Lord Rama, was
commissioned by Rana Jagat Singh of Mewar in 1649 and produced in his
court studio at Udaipur.

Lord Rama has divided his forces, sending the
chief monkeys with their separate armies to the four gates of the city
of Lanka. The allies have launched a general attack on Lanka, in which
many marvellous feats of skill and daring are performed. From Mewar Ramayana.

After a tremendous fight, in which Lord Rama shoots off Ravana's heads with his arrows only to see them grow again,
Lord Rama is reminded to use his Brahma-astra (weapon). This weapon pierces Ravana's
chest and he falls lifeless from his chariot. From Mewar Ramayana.

Dussehra was the culmination of the Navratri festival - nine nights of worship of Maa Durga, the warrior goddess.

This beautiful Rajasthani Painting "Dassehra Durbar",of Marwar style, depicts the king
seated against a bolster in court. He is wearing a white dress. Dancers
are performing to the accompaniment of music. Courtiers on either side
of the king are enjoying the dance and music. They are all wearing white
dresses and red turbans. The occasion is the celebration of the
Dussehra festival.

Rajput princes used to celebrate Dussehra in a magnificent style by holding darbars, receiving nazars, and conferring ranks and
honour on deserving officers. Vassals used to pay homage to the Rana on
this day. Horses and elephants
were brought out for display after being duly washed, groomed and bedecked.

A 1764 miniature painting depicts Maharana Ari Singh
II (1761-1773) riding in procession with the traditional emblems of
royalty: a chhatri (parasol) called Kirnia and two royal standards called Changi.
One is in black felt and the other is in white ostrich feathers, both
with a golden sun in the centre. The sun indicates that the Rajputs were
Suryavanshi, i.e., belonging to the dynasty of the Sun.

Jahangir Celebrates DussehraMughal Emperor Akbar is credited for celebrating Dussehra with his Rajput wife. Though, Jahangir is also known to have shown reverence to the customs. While staying at Ajmer,Jahangir celebrated the Dussehra
festival in the usual Rajput manner. Decorated elephants and horses were
brought before him for review. A procession was taken to
the place where a sami tree was being worshipped. Illumination and fireworks
followed the celebration. Dussehra - A Time for WarAccording
to an old tradition, the rulers of
Rajasthan used to move out from their places, on Dussehra, to organise a
campaign on the pretext of Aheria hunt. War was
a "sport" for the Rajputs. It was a part of their custom. For instance,
Rana Raj Singh used this festival as an excuse to lead an expedition to
Badnor. 4

An 1802 miniature depicts the
army of Rana Bhim Singh (1778-1828) in procession to the temple of
Ekling Ji. Traditionally, a triangular crimson flag (pataka)
with a golden sun represented the Ranas of Mewar, but flags were
also issued to the leading Rajput nobles. These flags had a Rajput dagger (kataar) on a crimson flag, as shown here. The rectangular flag with the sun, the crescent moon, the talwar (curved sword) and two stars, was called dhvaja
and was carried by the royal band. The double triangle white flag
depicts Hanuman, the traditional symbol of fearlessness and strength for
Hindus.

Historian
R.C. Dutta illustrates how medieval custom
still lingers and the Dussehra festival is still celebrated with spirit
and
enthusiasm in Rajasthan. He writes, "The Rajputs worship the sword on
this occasion ...... I witnessed the Maharaja (of Jaipur) performing the
worship, assisted by his priests and ministers; I saw the Maharaja
going out in a procession among joyous and enthusiastic crowds of
people; and I also witnessed the grand closing review and festivities in
an
open plain adjoining the town. Fire-works and illuminations closed the
scene, and as I came back to the city among tens of thousands of joyous,
enthusiastic and loyal citizens crowding round their chief......I could
to some extent realise their loyalty, their pride, their joyousness." 5

The Mewar army in the 19th century, a mix of
the old and new. The old-style armoured horses and elephants are seen in
the foreground, the organized infantry and English-style cavalry at
the back. Artillery guns fire a salute as the Rana (not seen in the
picture) takes a muster of his army on the Muhalla day after Dussehra.
Some of the traditional cavalry wear elephant-masks.

'Sad and perturbed Ravana seated on a golden throne, worried about his fate', Kangra style, 19th century

I now leave you to enjoy this festive season with these pictures from the archives:

Celebrating Dussehra in Kota, Rajasthan

In
Rajasthan, Dussehra is celebrated with great vigour in Kota, which also
reigns supreme among tourists for holding gala celebrations for the
Dussehra festival. The Dussehra Festival of Kota can be touted among the
major attractions of the town. During this festival, a very vibrant and
colourful mela or fair is organized. This festival is usually held
every year in the Hindu month of Ashvin (September-October). Dussehra is
joyfully celebrated almost all over India but is a class apart in Kota!
75-feet tall effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarana and Meghnath are burnt
here on Dussehra day.

Diwali Celebrations in Udaipur

This
view of a celebration in a Rajput palace is an early example of the
genre of Rajput paintings, panoramas describing scenes of court life,
that blossomed in the early 18th century at the Mewar court. The palace is most
probably located in Udaipur.

The
festivities represent Diwali, the Festival of Lights devoted to Lakshmi
the
Goddess of Wealth and Good Fortune. To secure luck in the coming year,
the Goddess is worshipped at Her shrine, and the light from the
fireworks
and the oil lamps on the dark New Moon night symbolises the victory of
the forces of light over
darkness. The palace is depicted from a bird’s eye view, the perspective
of different sections skewed to present the architectural details and
spaces within the building to best effect.

The
painting richly rewards close examination, with numerous entertaining
vignettes and details, including the woman seen in profile through the
window set into the bright orange main gate. Beyond the walls of the
palace, a lively gathering includes a group of musicians, men sprinkling
the dust with water from a goat skin bag, a pair of sadhus (ascetics) and even a man leading a leopard on a leash.

Within
the palace, the Diwali festivities take place in the presence of the Rana who is
accompanied by the women of the raniwaas. Here he is being entertained by a
diminutive performer. The open placement of the women in the painting
depicts the freedom enjoyed by the ladies in the palace. To the
left, a priest bows before the Diwali lights. The combination of
intricate, lively details contained within a framework of palace
architecture and landscape, and executed in dense, bold colours,
characterise the Rajput painting.

Thursday, October 15, 2015

" Akbar
did not have a single drop of the "blood of Hind" running through his
veins, colloquially speaking. Yet he was a native son of the soil of Hind, not
just because he was born here but also because he lived almost his entire life
here and accepted Hind as his ONLY homeland. And, what is more - we have accepted him as one of our own - as a monarch who continues to rule over many hearts after 400 years for his reforms, despite his administration which lasted only for
forty-nine years, eight months & three days. "

Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar was (officially) born on Sunday, 15th
October, 1542*, at Amarkot (also known as Umerkot), a small town of less than
5000 inhabitants, amidst the forbidding sand-dunes of the eastern extremity of
the Sindh desert. The adjoining sea of sand in Rajputana provided a bleak
backdrop for the birth of a child destined to rank among the great sovereigns
of the world. This was not the first time that providence chose a grim setting
to raise the curtains on an important event in history.

Let us trace the events that immediately preceded the birth of Akbar. What were
the circumstances that led Akbar to be born in a Rajput palace-fort when
Rajputs and Mughals were traditional foes? I can tell you this is one very
interesting and romantic story that will leave you spell-bound by the vagaries
of Fate.

Humayun and Hamida Banu Begum Reach Amarkot Humayun and his 15-year
old consort, Hamida Banu Begum, reached Amarkot on 22nd August, 1542, following
a perilous march from near Jodhpur through a tract of desert as forbidding in
its scarcities as in the hostility of its Rathor ruler, Rao Maldeo
Rathore.
It was indeed a wonder that the fleeing Mughal Emperor and his small band of
followers escaped death or capture at the hands of one whom Ferishta described
as "the most powerful and influential prince of the time in
Hindustan" & Nizam-ud-din described as the "greatest Rai of Hind".

Rao Maldeo Rathore of Jodhpur

Some modern authors allege that ambition & power led Rao Maldeo to forget
the traditions of Rajput chivalry, according to which he should have provided shelter
to Humayun, who was wandering in exile after losing his empire to Sher Shah
Suri. But, in my opinion, this charge is not true. Initially, Rao Maldeo did
agree to provide refuge to Humayun, but due to a "mistake" by Humayun's camp
followers, Rao Maldeo turned against Humayun, who consequently had to flee
Jodhpur.

Mistake of Humayun turned Rao Maldeo Rathore against him, though he did not molest him and allowed him to pass safely through his kingdom of Jodhpur.

Fortunately for the much troubled Humayun, he was received with utmost respect and
courtesy by the Rana of Amarkot - Rana Veersal. Humayun made Amarkot his base
for gaining a foothold in Sindh*.
* - Sindh and Amarkot are now in Pakistan.
Hopelessness bred in Humayun and his men a desperation which enabled them to
win the battle against hunger, thirst and the raiding parties of pitiless
pursuers. Humayun and Hamida Banu entered Amarkot at the head of a weary troupe
of seven attendants; the rest straggled in several hours later in small
batches.

Birthplace of Akbar in Amarkot(now called Umerkot), Sindh, Pakistan

The gallant Rana of
Amarkot, from the Hindu Sodha Thakur Rajput clan*, not only gave the royal couple a gracious welcome, but he also received
every member of the Mughal party with courtesy and made suitable arrangements
for their stay and entertainment. He even went to the extent of vacating his
own palace inside the fort for Humayun and his young wife, and ordered his
courtiers to pay homage to them in the same manner as they did to him.

Brief Note about the Sodha Thakur Ranas of Amarkot :

* - The descendants of Sodha Rajput Ranas still live in Sindh, Pakistan. They have one more sovereign who is remembered in history for his heroic sacrifice for his fierce love of independence. Their ancestor Rana Rattan Singh fought to
keep Sindh free from British colonialism. The British captured and
executed him in his own fort at Amarkot (in 1853), on top of a high
platform constructed especially to make his hanging visible for miles
around and serve as an example to those who dared to defy their rule. Legend has it that even at the gallows, his last wish was to give a twist to
his magnificent moustache in a final gesture of his defiance to British rule. The Sindhi
folk song 'Mor tor tillay Rana' is based on his heroism can still be heard from the bards of Amarkot. The site has been converted into Umerkot Museum. They were in news in 1999, as the Late Rana Chandra Singh of Umerkot had brokered the former Indian Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s historic trip to Lahore to meet Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for peace talks.Sodha Ranas continued to form matrimonial alliances with the royal families of
Rajasthan in India, even after the partition of India. Borders did not affect them. Recently, in February 2015, they came to India to marry a princess of Kanota dynasty (Jaipur), Rajasthan. It was a much talked about wedding in the royal circles.Read more here : www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Tying-the-knot-couple-to-show-borders-are-a-naught/articleshow/46305689.cms

Birthplace of Mughal Emperor Akbar in Amarkot has been marked by the Umerkot Museum authorities

Hamida Banu Begum Treated as a Daughter of the Royal Family by the Rana of AmarkotWhen the Rana came to
know that Hamida was seven months with child, he placed at the disposal of his
guests the meagre medical resources of his desert kingdom. Rajput ladies of
high status were deputed to keep her company and to see that the memories of
her arduous trek through the desert did not in any way disturb her equanimity. In a signed document to
his officers, the Rana wrote:

"We have the privilege
of playing host to a royal couple. Fortune has not been kind to them in recent
months. It is our moral obligation to
make them feel at home in our realm and to leave nothing undone to restore
their peace of mind. Therefore, I command you all, in the name of our
traditions and canons of honour, to extend to them such courteous submissions
as would bring them happiness.

A special obligation devolves upon the
ladies of your families to personally pay their homage and express their good
wishes to the Queen who is expected to gain in a few weeks the high honour
of being a mother.We attach great
importance to the coming happy event.It
will perhaps be the first time in history that a Muslim princess will give
birth to a child in a Rajput palace. Our duty is clear.

The young Queen must be accorded the
same courtesies and facilities as would be extended to a daughter of our own
royal family. Arrangements may therefore be made, in consultation with the
custodian of our household, to fill the days of our honoured guest with amusements
such as would raise her spirits and generate in her the confidence of being
amidst genuine friends."
This was a circular which, in a way, anticipated the concept of Hindu-Muslim unity
the unborn child was destined to work for, later in his life. Notice how the Rana commanded his
officers and their womenfolk to accord the young Hamida the same courtesies and
facilities that they would offer a daughter of the Rana's family. In other
words, the Rana accepted them not as refugees, but his own people, who had been
struck by misfortune. It is hard to imagine the large-heartedness of the Ranas
of those days!

Humayun and Rana Veersal BondHumayun was touched
greatly by the warmth of deferential submissions made to him and his wife. The
Rana placed at his disposal the entire resources of his kingdom, including an
army comprising 2500 well-trained Rajput soldiers, for joint punitive action
first against Shah Hussain of Sindh and then, if fortune favoured them, against
Sher Shah Sur whom they considered to be the arch usurper and a common foe. However, this union was
later broken, thanks to Humayun's indulgence in sensual pleasures and
inactivity. This is another story and is not part of our present discussion.

Humayun Advised by Astrologers to Not Meet Akbar for a MonthAt the instance of a
Hindu astrologer, who foretold Humayun that if he did not set his eyes on his child
for 30 days after his birth, the newborn would bring good fortune to him and
the Timurid dynasty, Humayun decided to immediately march south-west of
Amarkot, before Akbar's birth. Superstitious by nature, Humayun left Amarkot on
12th October, 1542, in disregard of the counsel of his Amirs. Three days later,
Akbar was born.

Celebrations At Akbar's BirthThe birth of a male
child was a signal for festivities, the like of which had seldom before been
seen in Amarkot. The fortress, enveloped in the light of the full moon, became
the focal point of rejoicings which, as is customary in Hind, initially took
the form of prayers to thank the Lord of Creation for bestowing upon the royal
guests the gift of a son and heir. Drums were beaten to proclaim the happy
event to the population. When dawn broke, alms were distributed to the poor.
Community kitchens were set up and food served free to merry-makers and all
those who came to town to take part in the celebrations. Temple bells were
sounded, and dancers, clad in their shimmering red and yellow raiment, went
into ecstatic performance of their skills before the images of deities
worshipped for their sway over the forces of procreation.

Inside the palace, the motley group of Mughal ladies congratulated each other
on an event they all believed was of uncommon significance. Traysful of sweets
were passed around, and tables heaped with luscious fruits were laid out for
the members of the King's household to feast upon. Merry-making continued for
two days and nights without a stop. Khwaja Muazzam, brother of Hamida Banu,
received the felicitations of Rajput courtiers on behalf of Humayun, and
bestowed upon them khilats and robes of honour - suited to their ranks. The
Khwaja sent hard-riding horsemen to convey the news to the
"kingdom-less" Emperor who was camped sixteen miles from Amarkot at a
picturesque place abounding in water and vegetation.

This is a portrait from Akbarnama - rare to be found. Hamida Banu Begum Gives Birth to Akbar - Hamida Banu Begum is reclining on a bed as she is offered sweets for giving birth to the Mughal heir. Another woman seems to be waving something over her head, may be to drive away evil spirits.

The newborn Akbar is cradled by a Rajput lady, as the other ladies wait to attend to the baby with scented oil. A woman seems to be pounding turmeric in the extreme left, to be applied to the mother and child along with the oil at the time of their first bath after the delivery.

A couple of brahmins in the centre seem to be waiting to look at the child before drawing his horoscope.

Notice the comfortable settings which Hamida Banu was provided by Rana Veersal for her confinement.Can anyone say the Mughal couple was on the run for their life at this moment after losing their entire kingdom ?

This is the page of Akbarnama from which the above (and below) pictures showing birth of Akbar were carefully taken. The celebrations can be seen in the later half of the picture. Drums are beaten & alms are distributed to the poor in Amarkot on birth of Akbar.

More clear view of the above picture showing birth of Mughal Emperor Akbar. Everything written in the post can be seen in pictures, ranging from sweets to tumeric to oil, and the preparations to draw horoscope. The hospitality & help given to Humayun and Hamida Banu Begum by the Rana of Amarkot can be clearly seen.

Distribution of alms to the poor in Amarkot on birth of Akbar. In the background, we can see Mango leaves on the doors of the fort, which points to a typical Hindu style of celebration.

Rejoicing in Amarkot on birth of Akbar. The performers can be seen showing acts with swords in hands. Drums are beaten to announce the arrival of a Mughal prince. People can be seen praying to the Almighty.

When Tardi Beg broke the news to him, Humayun prostrated himself on the ground
to thank Allah for His munificence. The assembled courtiers did the same. Some
of them ventured to suggest that the Emperor return to Amarkot to share with
Hamida Banu the joy of parenthood, but in vain. Humayun was determined to evade
having a look at his son for thirty days.

3 year old Akbar with Humayun and Hamida Bano Begum at Kabul..Portrait from Akbarnama

Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar Padshah, who ruled over sufficient part of Hind for forty-nine years, eight months and three days between 1556 and 1605 was totally illiterate. But he had the
intrinsic curiosity to question almost everything and the only answer to his questions was a
convincing reason. He questioned everything ranging from the use of Arabic alphabet to child marriage, or the denial of a daughter’s share in her father’s
property but above all, he questioned religion
as the basis of legitimacy of the state.

Akbar's
remarkable journey in the land of Hind started - in the palace of a Rajput Rana.
And within a score of years, his life again intertwined with the Rajputs irrevocably.
His birth had forecast a new dawn in the politics of India which demanded unity of all sorts and the later part of his life was dedicated to this
mission.

Today is the 473rd
birth anniversary of this Mughal Emperor. Do share your thoughts about this
magnificent legend in his memory today.

Today is also the
Birth Anniversary of the visionary leader, scientist and a great human, Late. Shri APJ Abdul Kalam Ji - the former
President of the Union of India, who devoted his entire life for the progress of this nation.

Monday, October 12, 2015

Hi EveryoneMany
of you have requested for details about the personal life of the Rajput
warrior Maharana Pratap, seeking reliable information about his wives
and children. This article is a culmination of my research into these
aspects of the Maharana's life and aims to provide insightful details
about his family, culled from various sources.It
is an accepted reality that one cannot easily adopt an objective
approach while writing about the personal life of any historical
character. One can only strive to consult as many sources as possible,
before reaching any conclusions. A prime reason
for confusion or simply lack of information in the open domain about
the wives and
children of historical figures is that eminent historians are usually
more concerned with the social, political, religious, and other such
aspects associated with the reign of any king. Royal protocol of many
kingdoms also prevented detailed mention of the queens in chronicles
that could be publicly accessed.Another reason is that
while several historical manuscripts are present in the private
collections of the erstwhile ruling houses of Rajasthan, only those that
are considered important are taken up for research and translation by
eminent scholars. Hence, anyone who really wants to dig up something
concrete about the personal lives of their favourite legends would
benefit by reading the untranslated manuscripts which lie buried
anonymously among thousands of other historical artefacts in these private collections.I
have gone deeply through 8 sources to prepare this article. These
sources have been specified in the article, along with scans from them. I
must admit, however, that i could not access 10 other sources that
could have provided some additional information. This does not in any
way imply that the article is lacking in details of any sort, as readers
would also observe after a careful study.The
present article, by no means, claims to be a final authority regarding
information about the wives and children of Maharana Pratap. My intention in posting this
article is only to share the observations from my reading on this topic
till now.I have already
stated that i could access only 8 ( out of 18 sources ) that could shed
light on this highly personal and hard to procure information. I have
provided details of the exact locations / addresses of the places in
Rajasthan where such manuscripts are present, so that readers who
wish
to continue their personal research into this topic may be able to do
so. It would be a pleasure if readers could share their research
findings here with the rest of us. At the end of this post, a video has been uploaded which shows the wealth of information that may be obtained by a visit to
the City Museum of Udaipur. Some points - worth thinking, have also been included at the end of the post, about availability of Rajput records.

Portrait of Maharana Pratap

This
is not the original portrait of Maharana Pratap Singh. This portrait
is based on a miniature made available from the Udaipur palace to the artist - Raja Ravi Varma Coil Thampuran. The original portrait is still with the Mewar
Royals.

Raja Ravi Varma was a 19th century painter and artist
from the princely state of Travancore (present southern Kerala and parts of
Tamil Nadu). He is considered
among the greatest painters in the history of Indian art and his works
rank among the best examples of the fusion of Indian traditions with the
techniques of European academic art.

Overall List of the Wives of Maharana PratapMaharana Pratap had 11 wives:1. Maharani Ajabde Bai Parmar - first wife of Maharana Pratap. He married her at the age of 17 in 1557. She was the disciple of Shri Vallabhacharya. See this post : Click Here2. Rani Pur Bai Solankhini { A Solanki princess }3. Rani Champa/Chaand Bai Jhali 4. Rani Jasoda Bai Chauhan5. Rani Phool Bai Rathore { Phool Kanwarani Ji before marriage, a Rathore princess from an offshoot of the Rajputs of Marwar }6. Rani Shahmati Bai Hadi { A Hada princess - offshoot of Chauhans; Hadas were the rulers of Kota and Bundi. }

This record, which can be termed the most authentic, as it is from the
personal collection of the royal family of Mewar, has been used to
compile the list of the wives and sons of Maharana Pratap.The
details are from the manuscripts
held in the private collection of the Maharanas of Mewar.

Note:

Maharana
Pratap did not have any concubine in his women's residential quarters.
He exercised a high degree of morality and followed a strict code of
ideals & values in an era when keeping a concubine was considered the norm.Most of his marriages were political alliances. The major
exception to this was the first marriage of Maharana Pratap to Maharani
Ajabde Bai Parmar. Rana Amar Singh who succeeded Maharana Pratap as the
ruler of Mewar and carried on his father's struggle against the Mughals
was born to this couple.Overall List of the Children of Maharana PratapMaharana Pratap
had 17 sons from his 11 wives. No historical record of any daughters[see end of this post]
could be found by us. None of his sons entered the Imperial Mughal
service personally.Here is a list of the Maharana's sons along with their estates:1. Rana Amar Singh Ji Mother - Maharani Ajabde Bai ParmarThe
Maharana’s first son and successor, Rana Amar Singh Ji, was born in
1559. He inherited the estates of Gogunda and Udaipur from his father.
When the Maharana was dying, Rana Amar Singh promised him that he would
never enter the personal service of Mughal Emperors- a promise he kept
lifelong. Rana
Amar Singh waged continuous wars with the Mughals from 1597 to 1614. He
fought in 17 individual battles including the major wars of 1606 and
1610, before the last long-drawn struggle which ended in 1614.

Description
from Mewar Records - Birth of Rana Amar Singh on 16th March 1559 -
the first son of Maharana Pratap & Ajabde Bai Parmar. Rana Udai
Singh was so happy that he proceeded immediately from Chittor and first went to pray at the Ekling Ji temple &
then for hunting, at the village of Aahad.

Later, Rana Udai Singh ordered a dam to be built on the Berach river to ensure adequate supply of water to Mewar. The Udai
Sagar lake was developed as an outcome of this dam, which drains about 479 sq km, and covers an area of 10.5 sq km.

Udai Sagar Lake

Udai Sagar Lake - View from City

Note:The
Berach river is a major tributary of the Banas river in western
Rajasthan. Chittorgarh was situated on the bank of this river. It
originates in the Gogunda hills in the Udaipur district.

5. Kunwar
Khachro Singh Ji inherited the estate of Jolawas, a place in the
Gogunda tehsil of Udaipur district. He served as a deputy in the estate
of his eldest brother Rana Amar Singh.Mother - Rani Champa Bai Jhali

6. Kunwar
Samwal Das Singh Ji inherited the estate of Jamuda in Salumber, which
was the traditional estate of the loyal Chundawat sardars. Remember
Rawat Chundawat who died in the battle of Chittor ?Mother - Rani Champa Bai Jhali

9. Kunwar Chaanda Singh Ji, the second son of Maharana Pratap. He was given the estate of Anjana in Dariba tehsil.Mother - Rani Phool Bai Rathore10. Kunwar Shaikha Singh Ji. He was granted the estates of Bahera, Nana and Bera (Bijapur), in the Gorawad.Mother - Rani Phool Bai Rathore11. Kunwar
Pura Ji , also known as Thakur Puran Mal Ji. He was granted the estates
of Mangrop (in the present Bhilwara district of Udaipur), Gurlam, Gadar-Mala & Singoli. He founded the
Purawat offshoot of the Sisodia Rajputs.Mother - Rani Shahmati Bai Hadi

The Sons of Maharana Pratap and Their Estates as per the Manuscript of Ranawali

15. Kunwar Maal SinghMother - Rani Ratnawati Bai Parmar

16. Kunwar Natha SinghMother - Rani Amara Bai Rathore

17. Kunwar Rai Bhan SinghMother - Rani Lakha Bai Rathore

Details From Other Rajput Records

Now we come to some other records that were encountered while searching for information about the sons
and wives of Maharana Pratap. Listed here are 5 such records.
Relevant scans have also been provided from these records.

Before we begin, let me
add that the some sources provided differing information. I have included these details, as i found them from the different
sources, so that readers may analyse and draw their own conclusions without being influenced by my views. Record - 1Manuscript - 827 {Hand-Copied}Leaves : 14 - 11Rajasthan Prachya Vidhya Pratisthan Library,Udaipur

This record
mentions only 9 wives and 15 sons. The names of Rani Phool Bai Rathore
and Rani Amara Bai Rathore have been left out. The names of Bhagwan Das
Ji and Chaand Singh Ji have been left out. Here is the English translation of the scan:1. Maharani Ajabde Bai Parmar: Name of son - Amarsingh Ji2. Rani Pur Bai Solankhini: Name of son - Bhagwan Das Ji3. RaniChampa Bai Jhali: Name of sons - Sahasa Ji, Gopal Ji 4. RaniJasoda Bai Chauhan: Name of sons - Khachro Ji, Samwal Das Ji, Durjan Singh Ji 5. RaniShahmati Bai Hadi: Name of sons - Kalyan Ji, Shaikha Singh Ji, 6. RaniAsha Bai Khichan: Name of son - Pura Ji 7. RaniAlamde Chauhan: Name of sons - Haathi Singh Ji, Ram Singh Ji8. RaniRatnawati Bai Parmar: Name of son - Jaswant Singh Ji 9. RaniLakha Bai Rathore: Name of son - Naatha Singh Ji, Rai Bhan Singh JiAs can be
seen from the scan, there are contradictions regarding the mothers of
the sons of Maharana Pratap. It's almost
as if the sons have been assigned to the name of the succeeding queen in
the list in many instances. This matches with Record 4 to a great of extent.Record - 3Manuscript - 867 {Hand-Copied}Leaves : 24 - 28/26 {Could not read the number clearly in the photocopy i made, it is either 26 or 28}Rajasthan Prachya Vidhya Pratisthan Library,UdaipurThis
record provides the names of the sons only, as can be seen in the scan.
It lists only 10 sons, out of which the name of one son (Meg Raj Ji)
appears in only 2 of the 5 records posted here.It leaves out the names of Thakur Bhagwan Das Ji, Thakur
Samwal Das Singh Ji, Thakur Durjan Singh Ji, Kunwar Ram Singh, Kunwar
Jaswant Singh, Kunwar Rai Bhan Singh, Thakur Gopal Singh Ji, and Kunwar
Maal Singh.

Record - 4Manuscript - 872 {Hand-Copied}Leaves : 136 - 146Rajasthan Prachya Vidhya Pratisthan Library,UdaipurThis
record again provides the names of the wives and sons of the Maharana.
According to it, the Maharana had 10 wives (Rani Shahmati Bai Hadi is
left out) and 14 sons. It does not mention the names of the princes:
Thakur Chaand Singh Ji, Thakur Shaikha Singh Ji, and Kunwar Haati Singh.

The Wives and Sons of Maharana Pratap, as per Manuscript 872

As
mentioned earlier, this record matches Record 2 to a lot of extent. Here is the English translation of the scan:1. Maharani Ajabde Bai Parmar: Name of son - Amarsingh Ji2. Rani Pur Bai Solankhini: Name of son - Bhagwan Das Ji3. RaniChampa Bai Jhali: Name of sons - Sahasa Ji, Gopal Ji 4. RaniJasoda Bai Chauhan: Name of sons - Khachro Ji, Samwal Das Ji, Durjan Singh Ji 5. RaniPhool Bai Rathore: Name of sons - Kalyan Ji6. RaniAsha Bai Khichan: Name of son - Pura Ji 7. RaniAlamde Chauhan: Name of sons - Ram Singh Ji8. Rani Amaravati (same as Ratnawati Bai Parmar): Name of son - Jaswant Singh Ji 9. Rani Amara Bai Rathore: Name of son - Maal Singh Ji10. RaniLakha Bai Rathore: Name of son - Naatha Singh Ji, Rai Bhan Singh JiRecord - 5Manuscript Number - 262Leaves : 21 - 24Sisod Vanshawali,Literature Section of Rajasthan Vidyapeeth University Library,Pratap Nagar, Udaipur - 313003, Rajasthan{Folks staying in Udaipur can visit this University to access this manuscript.}This
record also provides information about the sons of Maharana Pratap.
Again, it lists only 10 sons and is similar to Record 3.

The Sons of Maharana Pratap, as per Manuscript 262

It lists the following names:1. Rana Amar Singh Ji2. Sosi Ji - Thakur Sahahsa / Sahem / Sahas Mal Ji3. Pura Ji / Puravat - Thakur Pura Ji , also known as Thakur Puran Mal Ji.4. Sesho Ji - Thakur Shaikha Singh Ji5. Haati Ji - Kunwar Haati Singh6. Kalan Ji - Thakur Kalyan Das Ji7. Kachro Ji - Thakur Khachro Singh Ji8. Megraj Ji9. Nag Ji - Kunwar Natha Singh.10. Chando Ji - Thakur Chand Singh Ji11. Left blank12. Left blankConclusion:The discrepancies found in the lists of family members in the last 5 records are to be expected.
This is because these records were made later, without the official sanction of the
Mewar royal house. Most of the information in these records may have been compiled based on
memory or "commonly known" details. These were not written in
Mewar and their author is unknown till now. Research is still going on
in this field.It is
possible that the names of the mothers of the royal princes were not clearly
known to the common people, especially from later generations, because princes were usually brought up together by all
the royal women of the raniwaas, especially the senior queens. We
saw that the names of
some of the queens and princes have been omitted or left blank, most
probably because they were not known to the later generations of chroniclers.

The
most important reason for the discrepancies could be an error in
copying from
the original manuscripts or understanding the sequence of sons and
queens in the list. For instance, the most common mistake in these
records is that the son of one queen has been assigned to the succeeding
queen. This kind of error explains a lot about how the mismatches could
have occurred.

However, clear records are present in the private collection of the Maharanas of
Mewar, which serve as a reference for historians, and which
have been used to compile the overall lists of wives and sons of Maharana Pratap in this article.

Readers
are
requested to share any information they may have regarding this topic,
in general interest, because such information is quite rare and hard to
gather.

Update on Daughters of Maharana Pratap :

Though, I have personally, not found any information about the daughters of Maharana Pratap. However, a friend has recently provided the following information about thedaughters of Maharana Pratap. I am still in a process of going through the records, the details will be updated, as soon as they are obtained. Till then, here is what i have to be shared with my readers :

1. Asha Kunwarni Ji : She was the wife of Raj Rana Jhala Deeda of Sadhri. He died in 1609, fighting the forces of Mughal Emperor Jahangir under Abdullah Khan. (He was the son of Raj Rana Beeda Singh Jhala who died in the Battle of Haldighati, 1576). See the end of this post , point number 4 of Epilogue : Click Here2. Suk-Kunwarani Ji

Mughal
records were accessible to the British 200 years back. Out of an
earnest curiosity to learn about the dynasty that had ruled India for
centuries before them and the manner in which it had been able to do so,
the British started translating Mughal chronicles from Persian to
English over the years. As a result, most Mughal records can be read in
English today.The
same did not hold true for Rajput records. They remained almost unknown
and inaccessible to anyone. Historians strangely neglected this vast
reservoir of an alternative POV of history till around the mid-20th
century.

In the 1950s, the Government of India explored means to bring
to light the rich history of Rajasthan. In 1953, a fact finding committee was appointed by the Government of India, with a view to preserve & study the public as well as private records in the custody of erstwhile royal families of Rajasthan. The committee submitted its report after 8 years, in 1961, in which
it declared that "the cultural heritage of Rajasthan goes back to the
remotest period of Indian history and the archival wealth of the area is
enormous."

Incredible Depth of Historical Records in Rajasthan: Exploring and Cataloguing Private and Public Manuscripts

Since then, various initiatives
have been taken and research into these untranslated records is still
under
progress. Many special measures were taken in the 1980s.The
following video depicts the recent conservation activities and efforts being undertaken in Udaipur, Rajasthan to make Rajput records more easily available to
the common people. It features the present Rana of Udaipur. Even today,
many Rajput records are locked in the private collections of erstwhile
royal families and many glorious details and several
important facts lie hidden from our eyes. In this video, one
can see "sealed, age-old trunks" containing various artefacts and
historical records, which are in the process
of being catalogued and archived systematically.

The
historical records of the Jaipur (erstwhile Amer) and Mewar royal
houses are among the
richest in our country. The records of Jaipur go to the extent of
preserving the details of daily proceedings in the Imperial Court. The
collection of Mewar alone contains 35,000+ paintings, which are slowly
being brought into the public domain through the palace museum.
Last year, the present Maharana had announced the declassification of
13,000 historical artefacts during his lifetime so that common people
today could read and understand the rich heritage of Mewar. Both
the videos are the same. You can watch whichever video streams faster
in your
browser, to get a glimpse of how this initiative is being nurtured and
how time-consuming and expensive the process of archiving these
details is. Unfortunately, the government is not providing much
financial support for the process.We
hope that just like Mughal and other records are easily available for us to read
today, the glorious past of Rajasthan will also be soon available
for everyone to discover and appreciate.

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